Surgical instrument



May 6, 1947. R. A. MULI.

. SURGICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Aug. 7

Patented May 6, 1947 SURGICAL INSTRUMENT Raymond Arthur Mull, St. Joseph Township, Barrien County, Mich.

Application August 7, 1943, Serial No. 497,739

(Cl. 12S-1.4)

7 Claims.

` This invention relates to a surgical instrument and more particularly to an electromagnetic surgical instrument for removing ferromagnetic metal fragments and particles from wounds and other parts of living bodies.

When metallic fragments become embedded in a living body, such as shell fragments or other fragments resulting from explosions or the like, it usually requires careful surgery to remove them. In order to gain access to the fragment it requires not only making an incision to reach the fragment, but frequently requires cutting away large portions of living tissue to enable forceps or other surgical instruments to get hold of the fragment so that the same maye be Withdrawn.

It has been found that an electromagnetic intrument of the type hereinafter described enables quick removal of ferromagnetic fragments by making a relatively small incision with a sterilized instrument. It has further been found, in practice, that the use of such an instrument frequently eliminates the need for a patient to be removed to the operating room of a hospital and permits removal of the fragment in the eld or in a doctors ofiice.

As the term ferromagnetic shall hereinafter be employed, it refers to that small class of metals including iron,v nickel and cobalt in which the magnetic permeability is vastly greater than for other substances.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved surgical instrument for extracting ferromagnetic objects or fragments from a living body.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel electromagnetic surgical instrument in which all parts to be handled by the surgeon may be sterilized, and which will remain free from contact with all other portions of the instrument not sterilized.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel electromagnetic instrument including a solenoid and a removable probe.

Another and further object of the present invention is to provide a novel electromagnetic surgical instrument including an electromagnet having-a removable ferromagnetic core with a probe portion projecting from one end of the magnet and a handle projecting from the other end of the magnet.

Still another and further'object of the present invention is to provide a novel electromagnetic surgical instrument including an electromagnet and a removable core, the removable core being locked in place.

Another and still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel surgical instrument including an electromagnet and a removable probe, the handle portion of the probe havingY a removable protective shield for protecting the sterilized handle portion of the probe from touching the inner walls of the magnet when the probe is inserted therethrough.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and manner of construction, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view partly in section of a probe about to be inserted in an electrcmagnet;

Figure 2 is a view partly in section similar to Figure 1 but with the probe inserted in the electromagnet and locked in place and showing the shield being removed from the handle portion of the probe;

Figure 3 is a sectional View of an intermediate portion of the probe taken along the line III-III of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a portion of the probe taken along the line IV-IV of Figure l.

Referring now specifically to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the various figures of the drawing, there is shown therein an electromagnet I0 having a removable ferromagnetic probe or core lI. The electromagnet IIl is provided with a large number of turns of wire and is arranged to be electrically connected to a battery I2, such for example as a conventional sixvolt storage battery through a cable I 3 and a foot switch I 4. The cable I3 includes two conductors I5 and I5 which are connected respectively to the battery I2 and the stationary contact Il of the foot switch III. The foot switch il! is provided with a second stationary contact I8 which is electrically connected through a conductor i9 to the opposite side of the battery I2. The foot switch I4 also includes a movable contact which is carried on a button 2| and biased to a normally open position by a suitable spring (not shown). When the button 2i is depressed by the operator, or in any other manner, the movable contact 20 engages both the stationary contacts IT and I 8, thereby energizing the electromagnet III.

The electromagnet I0 is preferably covered by a rubber jacket 22 which enables frequent sponging o of the electromagnet exterior with an alcohol or other antiseptic solution.

The removable core Ii is formed of ferromagnetic material which is arranged to be magnetized by the electromagnet it. The core or probe II includes a central portion 23 which is of such a diameter as to snugly but freely slip within the longitudinally disposed central opening 24 of the electromagnet i8. The probe or core Ii also includes a handle portion E of reduced diameter and a probe portion 2S at the opposite end also of reduced diameter. In the form oi the invention herein shown the probe portion 26 is provided with a blunt nose 27 which is arranged to be inserted within av wound or within an incision made in living tissue where the ferromagnetic fragment to be removed is lodged. The handle 25 is preferably knurled as indicated in the drawing. The central portion 23 of the core II immediately adjacent the probe portion 2G is provided with a pin ES which extends therethrough and which is arranged to engage the end of the jacket 22 covering the electromagnet I5 as the probe I! is inserted therein.

The probe core i I is provided with a longitudinally extending recess 2d which extends from a point approximately opposite the middle of the central portion 23 up into the handle A latcliing lever is pivotally mounted in this recess by a pin The lower end of this latching lever is provided with a curved edge at 32 to enable limited rocking movement of the latching lever 35 within the recess 2S. The upper end of the latching lever 3? is provided with a cutout portion 33 which provides a lip for tting over the upper marginal edge of the jac :et 22 which surrounds the opening 2d in the electromagnet IFJ. This latching lip in conjunction with -he pin 2S, retains the probe or core member il in proper position wi iin the electromagnet i3 and may be seen c in Figure 2.

The lat ing lever 3d is also provided with an upper cam surface 3f; which is arranged to be engaged by the lower end of a sleeve 35 which iits over the handle As will readily be seen from the inspection of the drawing, the sleeve 35 holds the latching lever 3S) in such a position in its slot 2e that the lip does not extend outside of the exterior surface of the central portion 23 of the core amber si It will thus be seen that when the sleeve i-'i is ipped over the handle 25 and i over th cam surface 3d, the latchis disengaged from its upper latching '.ev also serves an additional function which will presently be apparent. Specifically,

the sleeve is made slightly longer than the handle portion and is provided with a flaring marginal portion around either end of the central as at 31. By providing a sleeve 35, ends beyond the end of the handle 25 the sleeve is slipped into position is seated against the central portion 23 and against the cam surface 34 of the latching lever it will be clear that the entire probe unit Ii be inserted through the opening 2!! of the electro4 .agnet ld without any danger of the handle on 25 comin,U into contact with the surface of the opening of the electromagnet Ill. rEhe sleeve 35 is designed to be removed from the handle 5 after the probe II has been inserted into the electromagnet iii. The removal of the sleeve 35 enables the latching lever B to be moved outwardly by a biasing spring 38 which is seated u even after and 1 the end of the electromagnet E8. s

4 in a small well or recess 39 in the central portion 23 of the probe II.

When the electromagnetic surgical instrument hereinbeiore described is to be used to remove a ferromagnetic fragment, the member I I with the sleeve in place, as shown in Figure l, is sterilized in the same manner as other surgical instruments are sterilized. The electromagnet i0 is cleansed with alcohol or some other antiseptic solution. When the surgeon or doctor is ready to work on the patient, the surgeon is handed the core member or probe I I in a sterilized condition. An attendant holds the electromagnet I0 for the surgeon while the surgeon carefully inserts the core member II into the central opening 24 in the electromagnet IG. The surgeon does not touch any portion of the electromagnet I0 but only handles the sterilized probe or core member Il.

It will be understood, of course, that the only portion of the complete instrument which needs to be fully sterilized is the probe portion 25 which is to be inserted into the wound and the portion which the surgeon handles which in this case is the handle 2li. The insertion of the unit II through the opening 24 in the electromagnet I5 may cause the sleeve portion 35 to come into contact with the inner surface of the electiomagnet Eil and the sleeve of course is no longer sterilized under such conditions. It will therefore be understood that after the surgeon has inserted the probe II into the electromagnet I!) by holding on to the lower end of the probe portion 26, the attendant who is holding the electromagnet I0 grasps the sleeve 35 and removes the same from the handle 25 without in any Way touching the handle 7..5 himself. Removal of the sleeve member 35 frees the cam surface 34 and the biasing spring 38 moves the latching lever outwardly about its pivot 34 to cause the latching lip 33 to snap over the edge of the jacket 22 around the opening 24 of the electromagnet Ill. The surgeon thereupon grasps the sterilized handle 25 and proceeds to manipulate and use the complete instrument by handling only the handle portion 25 or the probe portion 26 both of which are still in a completely sterile condition.

After the surgeon is through using the instrument, the sleeve 3S may be quickly and conveniently slipped over the handle 25, thus camming the latching lever 30 out of engagement with the marginal portion of the jacket 22 which surrounds the opening 24 of the electromagnet I0 and the probe unit may then be quickly and easily slipped out of the electromagnet I0.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will, of course, be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover all such modications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electromagnetic surgical instrument for removing ferromagnetic elements from a living body comprising an electric solenoid, a magnetizable core member extending through said solenoid and projecting therefrom at both ends, one of said projecting portions forming a probe portion and the other projecting portion forming a handle, and means for latching said core member in desired position in said solenoid.

2. An electromagnetic surgical instrument for removing ferromagnetic elements from a living body comprising an electric solenoid, a magnetizable core member extending through said solenoid and projecting therefrom at both ends, one of said projecting portions forming a probe portion and the other projecting portion forming a handle, a stop member on said core member for engaging one end of said solenoid and a releasable latch on said core member for engaging the other end of said solenoid, thereby to confine said core member in desired position within said solenoid.

3. An electromagnetic surgical instrument for removing ferromagnetic elements from a living body comprising an electric solenoid, a magnetizable core member extending through said solenoid and projecting therefrom at both ends, one of said projecting portions forming a probe portion and the other projecting portion forming a handle, a removable sleeve on said handle completely covering the same, a stop member on said core member for engaging one end of said solenoid in proximity to said probe portion, and a releasable latch on said core member in proximity to said handle for engaging the other end of said solenoid, said sleeve being positioned so as to hold said latch out of engagement with said solenoid while said sleeve remains on said handle, said sleeve being adapted to be removed after the core has been inserted in the solenoid and before the instrument is used.

4. An electromagnetic surgical instrument for removing ferromagnetic elements from a living body comprising an electric solenoid, a magnetizable core member extending through said sole noid and projecting therefrom, said core member including a probe portion, said core member having a recess therein, a latch member pivotally mounted in said recess arranged for rocking movement into and out of said recess, said latching member being arranged to engage said electric solenoid to retain said core member therein.

5. An electromagnetic surgical instrument, for removing ferromagnetic elements from a living body comprising an electromagnet having a centra1 opening therethrough, a magnetizable core member extending through said central opening and projecting therefrom at both ends, one of said projecting portions forming a probe portion, and the other projecting portion forming a han- .d1e, said core member having an elongated recess therein extending into said handle portion, a latch member pivotally mounted in said recess,

said latch member having a cam surface, means for resiliently urging one end of said latch member out of said recess, a removable sleeve on said handle, said sleeve being arranged to engage said cam surface to retain said latch in its unlatched position, said latch member being automatically movable into latching engagement With said electromagnet when said sleeve is removed from said handle portion.

6. An electromagnetic surgical instrument' for removing ferromagnetic elements from a living body comprising an electric solenoid, a magnetizable core member extending through said solenoid and projecting therefrom at both ends, one of said projecting portions forming a probe portion and the other projecting portion forming a handle, means for latching said core member in desired position in said solenoid, and a, removable sleeve on said handle disabling said latching means While on the handle, said sleeve adapted to be removed after the core is inserted in the solenoid and before the instrument is used, to latch said core member in said solenoid.

7. An electromagnetic surgical instrument for removing ferromagnetic elements from a living body comprising an electric solenoid, a magnetizable core member extending through said solenoid and projecting therefrom at both ends, said solenoid and said core member being readily separable so that the core member may be sterilized, one of said projecting portions forming a probe portion and the other projecting portion forming a handle, and means for latching said core member in desired position in said solenoid.

RAYMOND ARTHUR MULL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,535,618 Mayer Apr. 28, 1925 1,831,280 Wright et al Nov. 10, 1931 591,160 Dow Oct. 5, 1891 1,207,862 Chapman Dec. 2, 1916 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 319,090 German Feb. 24, 1920 498,230 German May 20, 1930 

